The main payload is an infrared system consisting of three camera modules for quantitatively analysing high temperature events. The capabilities of the basic configuration were already confirmed in the BIRD mission. The camera system has three physically independent line scan cameras: one for the visible and near-infrared range and two cameras recording in the mid-infrared and longwave infrared ranges, each with its own power supply and command and data interfaces.
This guarantees functional independence in case one of the modules fails. It offers many possibilities to optimize various measurement tasks as well. For example, it is possible not to turn on the multi-function camera for night-time recording in order to relieve the power and thermal regime. Mechanically, all cameras are mounted on a common optical bench, which optimally supports the mutual alignments necessary for operations. The cameras are also coupled via internal interface circuitry so that they can be reciprocally synchronized. The circuits are passive when a module is not connected in order to preserve the principle of independence and to avoid error propagation.
Camera Parameters